Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-11-22
PROHIBITION.


a Mistake Corrected and SoIle
Facts Stated.
The SOUTn kEETuCkiAN.was mis-
informed last week in regard to the
Issuance Of the warrants against
violators OF the prohibition law in
dictcd by the grand jury. Any SEEM
ing reflection cast upon the county
officials by the statement that the
warrants had not been issued was I'M
deserved and not warranted by the
facts. AS we do not wish to direct
responsibility where it docs no. be-
long, nor to do injustice to any officer,
we make this correction and give
statement of the facts IN the case.
The bonds of the indicted parties
were fixed at $50 in each case by
Judge Grace before court adjourned
in October, excepting in probably
half dozen cases where no. bond was
named. Whether this omission was
intentional or not we have no means
of knowing. Court adjourned the
FIRST week in October and on Oct. il
Circuit Clerk Brown issued about
half of the warrants. His supply of
blanks was exhausted and he ordered
more blanks and issued the balance
Of the warrants Oct. "a. They were
placed in the hands of Sheriff Boyd
soon afterwards and nearly all ofthem
were promptly issued and the parties
required to execute bond. A few of
them have not yet been issued because
the parties have not been found. Both
of the above named officers acted
with commendable promptness and
we have every reason TO believe have
done their duty in the premises. The
duty Of one is toissue warrants when
directed and of the other 10 serve
them when they are placed in his
hands and when these duties have
been performed their responsibility
ceases. The records of their respect
tive offices show that both officers
have met these requirements faithful
ly and impartially and we feel assur-
ed they will continue to do SO. This
being the case it follows that neither
Mr.. Brown nor Mr.. Boyd is RESPONSE
BILE for the non-enforcemet of the law.
Then whose duty is it? The duty of
the County Attorney is to prosecute
such offenders as are brought up for
trial and Mr.. Payne has in no instance
failed to do this. City Attorney
Ferguson also stands ready to Wig
arously prosecute all offenders and
County Judge Winfree and City
Judge Brasher will do their part to
enforce the troublesome law. 1t ap-
pears after close investigation that
1t is the duty of none of these officers
TO personally do such detective work
and make such private investigations
as are absolutely necessary TO catch
the offenders, who are sharp and
shrewd and ever on the alert. Nor
is it the duty of the city police, with
out special and explicit instructions
from some properly constituted oflici-
al source, to go out of the line of their
designated duties TO apprehend viola
tors Of the law, unless they are
caught in the very act of willful
transgression.
Tn our efforts to locate the RESPONSE
bility we have arrived at the conclu-
sion that the people themselves must
aid the officers. The law abiding peo-
pie are clamoring for the enforcement
of the law. The proper plan is to orga-
nize Law and Order club to employ
men 10 watch suspected places and
swear out warrants against those who
frequent such places and make them
tell what.they know. The courts
have the power to issue warrants, the
officers will serve them and the attor-
neys will prosecute offenders. Now
that we have located the responsible
ty with the people themselves and
out lined the plan TO pursue, 1t re-
mains for the people to take the thing
in hand and take the necessary steps
to get out the warrants. The KEN
TUcKIAS is willing to cooperate with
the officers and such Law and Order
clubs as may be organized. Let there
be an honest effort to enforce the pro-
hibihon law and ifliquor selling can
not be broken up then let the law be
repealed and let us try The high license
system, which is almost certain to be
adopted by the next Legislature.